Every morning I wake up to find about 4-5 emails or Facebook messages that read something like this:

Don't get me wrong, I do find it very humbling that people reach out to me for advice. I do not, however, agree with the motivation that these emails are written with.

Plain and simple: If you want to get recognized for your work, stop trying to get recognized.

My friends that are getting recognized for their work through Forbes lists, TED talks, national media sources, etc. do not pursue their individual passions to get recognized, but rather, to see a change in the world.

The best way to look at it is by thinking about your primary incentive for pursuing your goals. Is it to become famous? Is it to get to a celebrity status? Or is it to see a difference being made?

Whether or not I would have been recognized by Forbes, CNN, Popular Science, etc. I would have still continued with my lab work and my company as a whole. I would not have waited around to get 'validation' or a sense of security from huge media sources. I did not need permissions to see a change.

The way I see it: I would rather eradicate global warming and be completely unknown to the world than make a marginal change and be known by everyone.

I know what you are thinking. I clearly have not answered the question: How do YOU get on the Forbes '30 Under 30' list.

Here is a pragmatic, step-by-step, approach to the situation :

1. Stop trying to make the list (or get any media attention for that matter)

2. Go make a change in your life, someone else's life, or the whole world